Precocious Beauty romps in Mohawk qualifier

A slate of eight qualifying races went forward Friday morning at Mohawk Racetrack, and O'Brien Award winner Precocious Beauty was front and center early on.

The multiple stakes-winning daughter of Art Major continued to prep for her 3-year-old campaign in Race 3 for trainer Gregg McNair and his son, driver Doug McNair.

Precocious Beauty lined up in post 7 and was parked forth at the quarter-mile pole, which was clicked off by Palm Beach Hanover (driven by Jody Jamieson) in :29.2. Precocious Beauty cleared to the lead in the second panel and went on to stop the half-mile clock in :58.2. She had a 1 3/4-length lead by the time she breezed past three quarters in 1:26.4. Precocious Beauty was four lengths the best by the time she hit the head of the lane. Completing her mile with a :27.3 final quarter, Precocious Beauty hit the wire first in 1:54.2, six lengths ahead of Palm Beach Hanover.

Gregg McNair spoke with Trot Insider leading up Precocious Beauty's Friday qualifying effort and he said that the filly has been training her way into shape. "I maybe would have qualified her last week, but we didn't get back [from Florida] until Friday night," said McNair. "We trained three or four more times in Florida before we drove up here. She was kept pretty ready."